PCAC released its 2009 Annual Report at the June quarterly PCAC meeting.
Financial turmoil and uncertainty at the MTA marked 2009. The PCAC and its Councils spent the spring battling the MTA’s proposed “doomsday” budget. This effort included testimony delivered at hearings and Board meetings and discussions with State elected officials, both locally and in Albany. Unfortunately, the funding legislation that was finally passed in May proved to be inadequate and by late fall the MTA faced a deficit of nearly $800 million. In December riders began to see “doomsday” as a very real possibility and the PCAC was again arming itself for the fight to save the system. To make matters worse, the NYS Legislature failed to extend the appointments of our three non-voting MTA Board members by the December 31st deadline. It took two months for them to be reinstated.
Despite these setbacks, there were positive outcomes. The PCAC got improved standing legislatively and a new Memorandum of Understanding with the MTA. Members and staff continued to actively lobby for the riders, giving numerous interviews to TV, radio and print outlets. The PCAC website was updated, a major research report was completed and the 2008 Annual Performance Review of the MTA was released.
We invite you to read more about the activities of the PCAC and the rider Councils by clicking here.